The Exalted Son: Hebrews 1:1-4

Read passage & Pray to begin: (I’m so passionate about this, I might literally have a hard time containing myself.)

1. Last week I told you that theology does indeed have practical implication for daily living.
   1. Here’s an example, and a good one. – [Margaret Cushman] commentary – Not at all afraid to die, but ready. First thing she’s going to do in eternity is kiss the scars of Jesus, because they were for her.
   2. The gospel really is a person. Relationship to God through Jesus Christ is the gospel. à (And let me ask) Does God not want to pour out his love and grace in Christ? – Getting in the path of The Fire and Flood of the Exalted Christ… (traditionally called ‘spiritual disciplines,’ now in vogue ‘habits of grace’ – studying the Word, prayer, and fellowship)
   3. What’s so special about God the Son, Jesus the Christ, Exalted Lord? And why does it matter to me (today… and tomorrow)?
2. Recall ‘The Big Reveal.’ – Last week we explained that the central clause of the first four verses is that “God… has spoken to us by his Son” – Now let’s take in each point, magnificent phrase by magnificent phrase, to marvel in the exalted Christ. (a summation of the Son’s person and work) – And this is NOT hyperbole, not an ounce of exaggeration… How is Jesus the supreme revealer of God? à 7 assertions/affirmations, “which describe [his] attributes and achievements” (O’Brien) as God’s ultimate communication of himself in the person of his Son
   1. Jesus is the heir/recipient of all things. – Affirms his present and future role à In what way does eternal Father “appoint” (assign the responsibility and privilege) the eternal Son heir of all things? à God’s plan – Son as agent of creation, salvation, sustaining, and heir of all
   2. And He is the creator of the “universe.” – the Father’s agent in creating the (aiones) world, ages – both time and space à (He is Creator, He is sovereign Lord, He is appointed Heir – The beginning and the end) – [What’s the connection to the first statement?] Jesus is the heir of all things precisely because he is the mediator over creation of all space and time.
   3. [Two parts] Christ radiates the light of God’s glory… [Because] he himself is the exact imprint of God’s very being.
      1. Author uses a couple of words unique to this verse in NT literature. “radiance” (apaugasma), splendor, intense brightness. “representation – exact imprint” (charakter), originally instrument for engraving or impression it makes (like on coin), “The word thus speaks of the features of an object or person by which we are able to recognize it for what it is.” – So other passages refer to Jesus as the “form,” “likeness,” “image” of God. (Jn 1:2, Php 2:6, Col 1:15) [Just as we see the likeness of a parent in the face of the child] – And in this case represents the very being/nature of God. (hypostasis – substance, essence)
      2. Don’t misunderstand the metaphor; yikes! – Rather, “The Son is the exact representation, the embodiment of God, as he really is. His being is made manifest in Christ, so that to see the Son is to see what the Father is like.” (O’Brien)
   4. This Son upholds “everything” by His powerful word. – The activity of his sustaining is not merely holding together the universe, but particularly His governing, managing of the divine order of all things toward a particular end. à (by the power of His word) Ps. 33:8-9 (he spoke and it came to be, he commanded and it stood firm); what kind of man is this that even the wind and sea obey him? (Mt. 8:24-27)
   5. Jesus made purification for sin (Which means it is HE who is the answer to our need) – Christ’s sacrificial death on a cross, a better and complete offering for sin… is a major emphasis of this sermon-letter. The Son provides not a temporary, but a permanent forgiveness that allows the recipients of his grace to enter the very presence of God.
   6. (After doing so…) He sits in the place of supreme honor & authority. (sits – saving work completed, right hand of Majesty – both place of honor, and in subjection to the will of the Father à Don’t ask me to explain the Trinity more than scripture does b/c I am incapable.)
   7. Jesus is superior (kreitton ­– author’s favorite superlative expressing superiority – better, greater) to the angels b/c his inherited name is more excellent than theirs – God the Son bears the name Sovereign Lord. (see v.8, v.10)
      1. This hearkens back to the first and last of 6 other things. – NOTE! “The idea of Jesus inheriting this name does not suggest that he was not Son before the exaltation.” [or incarnation!] (O’Brien) – “This Son is proclaimed as one with, but distinct from, Go the Father, having nature, activity, and position that identify him with God.” (Guthrie, 58)
      2. V.4 is also the diving board into the first extended comparison (to the primary players and institutions under the older covenant), a common theme and practice throughout Hebrews, (in this case) of the exalted Son compared to the place and role of angelic beings (often having served as God’s direct messengers). – So the second superlative, translated ‘more excellent,’ means excellent and different, of another category. The family name the Son holds (along with title, status, rank) is, as we say, on an entirely different plane.

• Where do you stand in relationship to this exalted Lord? (Better yet… Where do you kneel, where do you bow, with relationship to Jesus?)
  1. Although there must be a beginning (a regenerating transformation through faith in Christ), worshipping Jesus as Lord is not a one-time event. It is a way of life. – You do not want a shallow, dull form of Christianity. You want a vibrant, growing relationship of being overwhelmed by God! This exalted Jesus is offered freely to you today and every day, if you will humble yourself before God to accept His grace.
  2. Theology (the depth of your understanding of God, and intimacy in relationship with God), affect today and tomorrow because it has lasting impact on your head, heart, and hands.
     1. We don’t want our teaching and Bible-reading to be irrelevant, so we sometimes err on the side of being so practical as to border on pragmatism. – But what really changes you? WHO really changes you? So the goal of your getting in the path of the fire and flood of God’s grace to you in Christ Jesus—the Bible study and solitary prayer and fellowship with the church—is to know God better so that you will love God more, and then you will love, live, and lead like Jesus.
     2. See, deep theology is powerful and practical. The exalted Christ will challenge and change the way you see the world you live in. He will impact what you laugh about and cry over. He will alter your life goals and financial priorities. He will impact your compassion and mercy toward others. He will guide your reason for living and your safety in gracefully dying. He will shape your discernment with your media intake and your interactions with others on social media.
     3. I’m convinced that most of my sin is due to lazy theology. My spiritual lethargy and accompanying stupid lack of discernment come from weak theology. (BTW, yours too)
        1. Just consider the books that sincere Christians will fawn over as great helps to their spirituality, but are riddled with theological problems. This is gonna catch some toes – Jesus Calling. Or books or interviews or articles by a leading Christian who is an expert in one area but certainly not in the arena he’s commenting on!
        2. Or the extreme rampant danger of self-promotion on social media and the insensitive sharing of things not vetted and the intense vitriolic commentary to people we may or may not know. It is downright shameful. – BBC, let us be shining examples of humble discernment, of carefully considering the balance of truth AND grace, and the impact of our decisions, and the desire to think of others first.
     4. So I say to you, theology matters. Rightly understanding and loving the exalted Christ should be your utmost priority. – Program your life to aim it at knowing God and pursuing his desire for you. After all, that is why you are here—to exalt the exalted Christ, by seeing, knowing, loving, and sharing Him.

The Exalted Son (Hebrews 1:2b-4)

What’s so special about God the Son, Jesus the Christ, Exalted Lord? And why does it matter to me?

“God… has spoken to us by his Son” (vv. 1-2a)

7 Assertions: (about the Son as God’s ultimate communication of Himself)

• Jesus is the heir of all things. (v. 2b)

• He is the agent of creation. (v. 2c)

• Christ radiates the light of God’s glory [because] He is the exact imprint of God’s nature. (v. 3a)

• The Son upholds everything by His powerful word. (v. 3b)

• Jesus made purification for sin. (v. 3c)

• He sits in the place of supreme honor and authority. (v. 3d)

• The Son is superior to angels because his inherited name is more excellent than theirs. (v. 4)

Hebrews Theme – Endure in faith, holding fast to the knowledge that Jesus is better by far.